“I hope you will not think me foolish for asking your advice, my dear Miss Shirley, but, really, I am very much distressed, and I long for some one to help me. I am a brunette of eighteen and fairly good looking, yet no young man has ever asked me to marry him. Several of my friends have told me that men always prefer blondes, and that if I should bleach my hair my chances would be better. Do you think they are right? I would like to have a lover, and, of course, I hope to be married, but I should feel terrible if I should ruin my nice black hair by bleaching it. Do please advise me what to do in this matter.

“Addie McV.”

We do not agree with your friends that men prefer blondes. On the contrary, both types of beauty have their special admirers among the “sterner sex.” If you have “nice black hair” you should endeavor to retain it as nothing is more stupid and disgusting than for a woman to attempt to alter a beauty that nature has given her. A true man will not love you for the color of your hair any more than he will for the length of your nose or the width of your shoulders. If you are a modest, intelligent girl, the right man will fall in love with you some day, and then if you had green hair it would not make any difference. You are too young to be thinking of marriage, in any event. Wait until after you are twenty-one before you even think of a husband.

“Faith, it’s mesilf as wud loike to ax yez a question, Miss Shirley, av ye plaze! I do be a maid, and a handsome policeman is after makin’ love to me. Sure, phwat will I say to him whin he axes me to marry the loikes av him? Me hearrt trimbles so at the thought that me sinsis do be after lavin’ me.

“Biddy G.”

We suspect “Biddy G” has translated her query into brogue as a bit of pleasantry. However, the question asked is quite to the point. If he is a kind, honorable man, we advise you to say “yes,” very promptly, Biddy. A good policeman ought to be a handy article to have in the family. He ought to be able to guard a nice little, warm-hearted wife and protect her from all harm. Be sure that his “record” is good, and then the “yes” will come easy; but in the words of your own tongue, “if yez can’t say it aisy, say it as aisy as ye can.”

MY QUEEN.